JUST more of the same old broken promises and excuses from our three local Farnworth councillors and the developer St. Modwen.

Cllr Ibrahim asks the people of Farnworth to be patient about the long delayed redevelopment of Farnworth town centre. Patient...PATIENT!

We have waited nearly 20 years for this redevelopment, in one form or another, to go ahead. (See Bolton News, 5th September 5 1996.) The redevelopment in the late 90's by Bruntwood Estates was never fully completed as per originally planned. Since then the council has pussyfooted about with at least four other developers and nothing much has materialised.

The people of Farnworth deserve some real answers explaining exactly what is behind the delays since St Modwen acquired the Market Precinct in 2011 and produced their great "Masterplan". What are the factors that are outside of their control, and exactly what is meant by the complex nature of the site? St Modwen and Bolton Council are largely to blame for the running down of the Market Precinct and the closure and demolition of Farnworth's open market. Anyone with any sort of business sense knows that the longer this site is allowed to remain in its dilapidated state, the less interest there will be from new prospective businesses.

Instead of getting more worthless promises from St Modwen why doesn't the council get them to sign up to a legal agreement saying they will complete the redevelopment by a specific date?

If not then the council should withdraw their planning permission and buy back the precinct under a compulsory purchase order.Vacant shops in the precinct could then be leased to shopkeepers at a peppercorn rent to encourage new business, and the open market rebuilt at the councils expense. The council have spent millions of pounds on Bolton town centre recently; it is high time they spent some on Farnworth.

O. S. Bird

Leyton Close

Farnworth